The deck has been cleared for India to purchase six Apache AH-64E choppers from the United States. The United States government on Tuesday approved a deal to sell the Indian military six Apache attack helicopters for USD 930 million or roughly Rs 62 billion. The agreement has been passed to the US Congress for approval, but if no US lawmaker raises an objection the contract is expected to go ahead.

The lead contractors are US arms, aviation and engineering giants Lockheed Martin, General Electric and Raytheon.

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The production of Apache fuselages by Tata and Boeing is already underway in India, today’s approval concerns a direct sale of finished products from US manufacturers.

“This support for the AH-64E will provide an increase in India’s defensive capability to counter ground-armoured threats and modernise its armed forces,” the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said, in a statement.

“India will have no difficulty absorbing the helicopters and support equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”